Air Quality Training
West of England Mayoral Combined Authority
Steve Crawshaw
Analysis Team
Purpose
- Improving understanding of air quality in MCA and UAs
- Enabling compliance with air quality legislation
- Protecting public health
Content
- Air Quality: Introduction
- Health and Environmental Impacts
- Regulatory Framework
- Air Quality Monitoring and Management in Transport Schemes
- Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Air Quality: Introduction
- Pollutants
- Sources
- History
Pollutants
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx) - a group of gases that includes NO2 and nitric oxide (NO) - complex atmospheric chemistry creates..
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - an acidic gas that irritates the lungs
- Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) - tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs
- Ozone (O3) - a reactive gas that can cause respiratory problems
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - important ozone precursors
Sources of Air Pollution
Sources and Exposure (NOx)
::: {.notes} Roadside exposure to NO2 is much greater than a purely emissions based analysis would suggest. :::
Sources and Exposure (PM)
- Transport accounts for 21% of PM2.5 and 18% of PM10
- 20% of PM2.5 emissions from domestic solid fuel
- i.e. where people live
- almost all discretionary emissions
- 36% increase in PM from this source 2009 - 2020
Indoor pollution
- Indoor pollution is significant but less regulated than outdoor
- Cooking (gas) - NO2
- Heating (solid fuel) - PM2.5
- Off - gassing (furniture, carpets, paint) - VOCs
- Transport (and other) emissions ingress from outside